Java game developer community First Impression : Yuk !!!

#1 I'm working on a Java game too. I don't think I can help you much, but you can look up my tutorial at http://fletchergames.tripod.com .

It isn't really enough to help you much, but maybe it will point out some pitfalls that you won't notice immediately otherwise. And maybe you can fix some of the problems I've been having. :)

Anyways, I hope I've been more helpful than Sun's site. Alot of my questions there didn't get answered.

#2 Thanks Steven I'll take a look at your tutorial when I get a chance.

As far as the members of Sun's site I haven't had much one on one interaction. I posted a few questions while in school and people were fairly negative then. Just browsing the game developer forums yesterday without a specific question made me discouraged about that community. I feel sorry for people new to the language going there for help.

#3 Steve and Michael,
I've been toying with the idea of making some medium-sized games using Java3D (also considering JavaGL). Maybe we could collaberate on a core engine with most of the basic mundane stuff pretty much layed out. Kinda like a mini-torque in Java, a place to jump from.
Thoughts?

Later,
DonC.

#4 @Don, my personal recommendation is to stay as far away from using Java3D to make a game as possible. It is nothing but a horrible piece of crap that isn't even fit for use in academia.

You will likely spend more time fixing or working around it than you will spent developing the rest of the engine that you need just to make your game.

There are many numerous issues and errors with it that are simply undocumented or the Java3D team does not care about because they have no definative goal aside from providing a 3D display for Java.

You can do much better for far less with many of the cheaper commercial engines that are out there that will let you jump right into developing your game as opposed to developing your own engine from scratch.

Logan

#5 I think it's a good idea, but I really want to do a 2d RPG in Java before I do anything else. I've gotten started already, but it's not very far along yet (i.e. you can walk, you can talk, and you can fight - but you can't use magic yet; also, most other features that I plan to implement aren't there yet).

If you decide to put it off until later though, look me up.

But I don't know how much help I'll be, as I don't know alot about 3d graphics programming. That's something I plan to work on after I finish the RPG. I don't know exactly what kind of 3d game I would like to make though.

I don't know whether I'll want to continue with Java or move to something else when I do something 3d. I plan to look around a bit first.

It sounds like you already know what's going on with Java3d, so good luck.

#6 Id make a J2ME game if I were you, its really back to basics emphasis on fun and gameplay rather than flashy graphics etc and ive found the nokia, motorola etc forums very helpful. plus you can sell it easier than an applet or desktop version if your so inclined.

#7 Thomas, I've been working on some J2ME stuff too, just playing around and getting into it. I'll second that too, the Nokia developer site in particular is crammed with useful documents, tools, phone emulators etc. Good stuff.

On a side note, have you pursued publishing at all with J2ME? I was a bit bewildered by the number of 'portals' selling games in the UK alone, and most of them don't have links for developers. I found a review site that you can submit your demo too, and they apparently pass it on for you - it all seems a bit uncontrolled though, and I would be concerned about who was selling my game, and exactly who was getting the royalties!

Have you had any luck with that?

EDIT : Sorry, maybe I should have viewed your profile first!

Thanks,

Darren.